Over the past half-century there have been many changes in the Yorkshire countryside. Deciduous woodlands have been felled and replaced by conifer plantations; wetlands and ponds have been drained; grasslands have been reseeded, and arable fields have been intensively farmed. Our river systems and coastline have also been subjected to increasing pressure and pollution. All these changes have had dramatic effects on Yorkshire’s semi-natural habitats and their associated wildlife. Added to these effects,
our climate is altering more rapidly than at any time in the last 10,000 years, leading to further challenges for plants and animals. Some have become locally extinct; others have seen declines in their numbers and/or distributions. From polecats to primroses, fish to fulmars, all have been affected to a greater or lesser extent.
However, it is not all bad news. Some species and habitats are recovering, thanks to national and international legislation and the conservation efforts of individuals and organisations. In this updated book, which originally developed from a conference held in Sheffield in 2011, we focus on those organisms and habitats which have experienced a fall and subsequent rise in their fortunes. We examine some of Yorkshire’s wetlands, woodlands, cornfields and road verges. We consider how birds, mammals, fish and plants have been conserved, with examples drawn from recent research in various parts of the county. We show how, through the efforts of a range of governmental and non-governmental organisations, habitats and species are now being managed to preserve our
biodiversity for the future. In this period of rapid environmental change and ever increasing human impact, the success of such conservation initiatives has never been more vital,